Quick Hits: Jimenez, D’Backs, Cubs, Dodgers

Ubaldo Jimenez has managed to turn things around as of late and is looking more like the pitcher that the Indians expected to have when they traded first-round picks Drew Pomeranz and Alex White for him more than two years ago. His resurgence is incredibly well-timed, as he’ll be a free agent this winter. What does he attribute the turnaround to? Jimenez says that he’s no longer obsessing about getting his velocity back to where it once was and is instead focusing on mixing up his pitches, writes MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. Here’s more from around baseball..

Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers took responsibility for the team’s .500 record and acknowledges that neither he nor skipper Kirk Gibson are safe, writes Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. Towers didn’t get into specifics about his offseason plan to improve the roster, but he sounds pretty content with the offense as it stands.

Cubs skipper Dale Sveum doesn’t have a vote of confidence yet from team brass, but he understands that the process comes with the territory of being a big league manager, writes Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

The Dodgers announced the signing of a relatively unknown Japanese prospect in 19-year-old right-hander Takumi Numata this week and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com attempts to profile him based off of the crumbs of information that are available.

Raul Ibanez and Kendrys Morales are the last two people to blame for the Mariners’ woes this season, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Barring obvious bat improvements at DH and first base/outfield front, Baker says there’s nothing wrong with having both impending free agents return to the team in 2014.